Gallery: Fresh faces atop Pan-American ‘cross podium

The day’s racing was preceded by a drum ceremony by First Nations members. Photo: Wil MatthewsCourse conditions Sunday were firm and tacky following Saturday’s rain, but start-time temps for the elite races hovered around five degrees celsius. Photo: Wil MatthewsMagnus Sheffield (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) led a group of favorites for the 17-18 junior men’s Pan-American championship on the fifth and final lap, and then held on for the win. This age group is always competitive and features close racing, with the top four riders on Sunday separated by just five seconds at the finish. Photo: Wil MatthewsFollowing his win in the elite men’s field at Cross Reno, Lance Haidet (Donnelly) was a favored rider for the U23 men’s Pan-American Championship, but a tangle with another rider early in the first lap left him mid-pack. Two subsequent falls in trying to regain contact with the leaders negated his chase efforts. Photo: Wil Matthews

The 25 starters of the U23 men’s field bolted from the line toward the first dirt section en masse. Photo: Wil MatthewsGage Hecht (Alpha Bicycle-Groove Subaru) worked his way to the front by the time the U23 men hit the sand for the first time Sunday. Photo: Wil MatthewsSunday was marked by clear skies and crisp fall conditions. Photo: Wil MatthewsAfter posting his race’s fastest lap time of 7:35 on the fifth of six laps, Gage Hecht’s advantage at the finish was substantial enough to allow for a more relaxed victory salute. Photo: Wil Matthews

The U23 women fielded 28 riders, more than the U23 men. Photo: Wil MatthewsKerry Werner, whose UCI ranking relative to the rest of the elite men’s field provided him bib number 1, warmed up at his team tent. Race organizers placed the men’s championship races before the women’s for the U23 and elite fields. Photo: Wil MatthewsClara Hosinger (Team S&M CX) pulled in front of Ruby West (TSH) to take the lead in the U23 women’s race on the second lap, and continued to stretch the lead to 23 seconds by the finish. Photo: Wil MatthewsCody Kaiser (Lange Twins) led the 33 riders of the elite men’s field out of the start. Photo: Wil Matthews

A major part of the total elevation gain each lap was provided by these concrete stairs. Photo: Wil MatthewsMichael Van Den Ham (Garneau-Easton) took a turn at the front on the second lap as the lead group began to establish itself. Photo: Wil MatthewsCurtis White (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) led teammate Stephen Hyde and the rest of the lead group early on the fourth lap. Photo: Wil MatthewsAnthony Clark (Squid) spent several laps making a heroic effort chasing the select group by himself, and wound up fifth overall. Photo: Wil Matthews

Michael Van Den Ham (Garneau-Easton) summited the concrete stairs ahead of Curtis White. Photo: Wil MatthewsThe lead four riders of the elite men’s field hit the first of two beach sections along the northern edge of Little Lake, just off Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay. Prevailing winds traveled across the water, bringing cold temperatures onto the venue. Photo: Wil MatthewsDefending Pan-Am champion Stephen Hyde (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) tried pulling away from the select group on the fifth lap. His sixth lap fall on the concrete stairs would end his race. Photo: Wil MatthewsKerry Werner (Kona-Maxxis) renewed his effort at the front early in the fifth lap along the lake shore. Werner finished third. Photo: Wil Matthews

Stephen Hyde (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) held his side as he coasts toward the pit following his sixth-lap crash. Photo: Wil MatthewsAfter teammate Stephen Hyde’s day was finished, Curtis White (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) turned in the fastest lap of the day on his sixth lap with a monstrous effort that clocked in at 7:27. Despite that, Michael Van Den Ham (Garneau-Easton) managed to claw his way back to the leader on the penultimate lap. Photo: Wil MatthewsCurtis White (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) and Michael Van Den Ham (Garneau-Easton) sprinted to the line on the eighth lap of the elite men’s race. Photo: Wil MatthewsCurtis White (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) edged out Michael Van Den Ham (Garneau-Easton) to take the elite men’s continental championship. The win makes White the first rider to own both the U23 and elite Pan Am championship jersey. Photo: Wil Matthews

Curtis White (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) chose file-tread tires for the tacky, fast course conditions. Photo: Wil MatthewsCurtis White (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) following his victory. Photo: Wil MatthewsEllen Noble (Trek Factory Racing) led the elite women onto the dirt by a couple bike lengths. Thirty-two riders started the race. Photo: Wil MatthewsCourtenay McFadden continued to improve following hip surgery, finishing fourth in the elite women’s field after chasing the lead trio for much of the race. Photo: Wil Matthews

Ellen Noble (Trek Factory Racing) winds her way through the forest. Photo: Wil MatthewsMaghalie Rochette (CX Fever-Specialized) pulled away from Ellen Noble (Trek Factory Racing) on the fourth of five laps, gaining almost 10 seconds. Photo: Wil MatthewsMaghalie Rochette (CX Fever-Specialized) took the win in her home country for the headlining event of the continental championship weekend. Photo: Wil MatthewsMaghalie Rochette (CX Fever-Specialized) shortly after her win. Photo: Wil Matthews

Laurel Rathbun (Donnelly) and Emily Werner (Amy D Foundation) after the elite women’s race. Photo: Wil MatthewsMaghalie Rochette’s Specialized Cruz is equipped with SRAM Force 1 drivetrain, with Quarq power meter. Photo: Wil MatthewsMaghalie Rochette was the only Canadian to claim a championship jersey on the home field over the weekend, and the first rider in the elite women’s field not named Katie Compton to take it. Photo: Wil Matthews

Antonio Pesenti reaches the summit of the Col du Galibier during the 1931 Tour de France in this photography courtesy of VeloPress from Goggles and Dust: Images from Cycling's Glory Days from The Horton Collection. Buy this book

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